Rocky Romanella, a top motivational speaker and author, recently published an article examining the mindset of what he calls "What If Visionaries"—business leaders who challenge conventional wisdom to drive innovation. In his piece, Romanella argues that these visionaries reject two common but limiting paradigms: "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know" and "it is not the plan that is important, it is the planning."
Romanella states that sticking with "the devil you know" can hinder leadership in several ways. It may cause leaders to retain employees who need a change, stifling diversity of thought and limiting solutions. In business, it prevents the identification of new products, markets, and growth opportunities. "What If Visionaries," he writes, look past the first right answer to create breakthrough, first-to-market solutions.
Regarding the emphasis on planning over the plan, Romanella warns that focusing solely on the planning process, without clear desired outcomes, key metrics, and execution strategies, leads to poor results despite productive meetings. He stresses that leaders must understand all functional areas of their business, use finance effectively, and be credible with stakeholders. More information on his leadership philosophy is available at https://3sixtymanagementservices.com.
Working with "What If Visionaries" creates energy and enthusiasm, Romanella notes. Their mindset is characterized by questions like: "What if we viewed our people as our greatest asset?" and "What if we are a technology company that happens to make 'X' product or 'Y' services?" He believes these leaders are the architects of their own destiny and the next generation of business leadership.
Romanella's bestselling book on this topic, 'Tighten The Lug Nuts: The Principles Of Balanced Leadership,' recently achieved number one bestseller status in Business Management and Business Leadership categories. The book, drawing on his over 40 years of experience at UPS, provides a framework for moving past the first right answer. It is available at online retailers, with details at https://tightenthelugnuts.com.
He also hosts The Leadership Library Podcast, now in its eighth season, with new episodes posted every Tuesday and Thursday. The podcast covers topics like trust, soft skills, strategic vision, and operational excellence. It is available at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1484407 and other platforms.
Romanella's book took First Place in the Business genre in The Authors Show® 2024 Book Cover contest. Contest results can be viewed at https://wnbnetworkwest.com/index.php/book-cover-contest-2024-vote?page=1. He is also an official member of Forbes Business Council, with his articles available at https://www.3sixtymanagementservices.com/forbes-business-council/.
Through his website, Romanella offers a library of resources including over 108 podcasts, training videos, and information on 23 leadership competencies. He emphasizes that leadership is about building a bridge to the future by giving people the opportunity to help construct it through clear communication of vision and strategy.
